Greeks Strike Over Austerity Measures

Transport and Media workers not happy about planned cuts

GREEK public transport and media workers have launched a week of strikes, contesting a planned new round of austerity measures needed for a creditor lifeline to the crisis-gripped and cash-strapped nation.

MPs are set to vote on Wednesday on a bill that will bring 18.5 billion euros ($A23 billion) in cuts and other reforms by 2016.

But the bill had not been introduced to parliament by Monday afternoon and could be delayed until midnight, a finance ministry source said, as the coalition government's three leaders grappled for a compromise on the latest cuts.

In Athens on Monday, the metro was shut and only one tram line was running, while taxi drivers halted services, severely disrupting traffic in the capital.